Today we’d like to introduce you to Lunna Pigatto.
Hi Lunna, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Back in 2017, I was studying Design Strategy in Italy and was very much influenced by art and design. That was when I started taking pictures of banana peels that I started to find thrown on the ground around the city of Milan and all over Europe. I was shocked to realize that Europe wasn’t as clean or sustainable-oriented as I thought it to be. I started registering my encounters and used the banana peels (sometimes other fruits and vegetables) to talk about art, and poetry, to find new meanings, and bring awareness to the food waste global issue. I was then posting bananas almost every day on my Instagram feed, and friends and family questioned me about it, interacting and feeling impacted by it. I started taking pictures in March 2017, and by June, I was invited to go join an art and design studio in New York to work closely with the Creative Director and the artist, at Studio Jeremyville, with Megan Mair. She mentioned how creative and different my storytelling was, and that was the main reason why it would be beneficial to have me for a few weeks during summer, assisting her at the studio. Having spent a whole summer working with them on a daily basis, breathing art and creative collaboration showed me how important it was to remain consistent, to discover different mediums through which I could articulate the cause I was starting to advocate for.
The banana peels project, now called Vainana, led me to start working more closely with food, especially sustainability and food waste. In over 5 years, I have had around a thousand pictures that were taken in almost 10 different countries and 2 international food-related projects for which I was invited to work as a strategic designer. In 2021 I was granted a full scholarship with Future Foods Institute, in partnership with FAO (Food and Agriculture Foundation) to take classes on Climate Change and Sustainability, and ever since, I’ve become an official Climate Shaper, advocating for the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as an alumnus I have participated in 2 editions as a workshop facilitator and mentor. Recently the project was featured in Dra. Francesca Zampollo food design book of 2022. My dream is to have pocket exhibitions of the pictures happening in museums and art galleries around the world, to bring awareness to the food waste issue, and participate in more sustainable panels and art festivals, inspiring other creatives and artists about how important it is to start doing good for the planet, no matter how big or small our impact is. After all, every nana counts.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has been an organic road; I like to play with the word. But I can’t say it has been smooth. From people not understanding my goal, from provocation around the theme, lack of confidence in my expertise around the cause, and yet not having the project become profitable, I can say it has been a struggle, if not anything else, to remain focused and determined in keep working on the project and believing that all that matters is the legacy and the positive impact the project is bringing to the world.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a strategic designer, holding a master’s degree from the Politec Nico di Milano. But in my heart and soul, I’m a multidisciplinary artist. I take pictures of banana peels and other fruits and vegetables and associate the lack of respect for planet earth and our surroundings with a lack of creativity and appreciation for life. With the pictures I raise awareness about the food waste issue and have been collaborating with different institutions, participating in webinars, and developing food-related brands since 2017. I’m proud of being chosen to be a Climate Shaper for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals campaign. I say that what sets me apart, or my superpower, is to speak the banana language. I always find them in places where no one sees them. What I do with my superpower is I give voice to the unseen, and I help people understand trash is nothing but a lack of creativity so anyone can help change the global food crisis by reducing food waste.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Discipline and a pinch of boldness (you can also call it creativity)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vainana_/
Image Credits
Lunna Pigatto
